BJ Watling, a former New Zealand international cricketer, has been named batting coach for the men’s team. He will succeed Luke Ronchi following the Test series against India in December. Watling, who retired from international cricket in 2021, enjoyed a distinguished career, featuring 75 Tests, 28 ODIs, and five T20Is. Here’s additional information.
At 41, Watling will join the Black Caps’ support staff on November 16, 2026, assisting Ronchi during a transition phase before officially taking over when the team heads to Australia for a four-Test series. Ronchi has been serving as batting coach since 2020, taking over from Peter Fulton.
Since retiring, Watling has coached the domestic teams Wellington Firebirds and Northern Districts. He contributed to the latter’s Super Smash victory in 2025-26 and Plunket Shield championship win in 2024-25. Ronchi’s resignation after six years earlier this year marked a significant moment for New Zealand Cricket ( NZC), which has now appointed him as batting coach.
The New Zealand Herald quoted Walting saying, “I’m incredibly excited. To come back into the team and work with this current group is a special opportunity and one I don’t take lightly. What this side and the support staff have achieved together over recent years has been remarkable, so I’m looking forward to contributing to a world-class side.”
After New Zealand won the World Test Championship final in 2021, Watling retired from international cricket. In his playing career, he played 108 matches for the Black Caps across all formats, including 75 Tests, where he scored 3,790 runs at an average of 37.52.
Remarkably, all eight of his Test centuries came in matches that New Zealand won. His first-class record is just as impressive. In 178 matches, Watling amassed over 10,000 runs and scored more than 100 on 18 separate occasions. He also holds the world record for the sixth-wicket partnership of 365 runs, achieved with Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka in 2015.
